Question

COMMENT/RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSSION:

"Before answering this question, I have to conduct a research. Through my research I found that fish is the recommended source for omega-3 fatty acids. Relying on supplements is not a bad thing to do but it is not recommended. Supplements are good for people who suffer from heart disease. Because they have to consume Dha and Epa daily. People on these supplements have to be careful with the doses because it has side effects. It can cause them to bleed and mess with their immune system. A diet rich in fatty fish provides a wealth of healthy benefits. I know that some people have problems with the way that seafood (fish) can smell or taste, so fish oil is an option for them. Fish oil supplement can reel in the important omega-3s you need. Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential for healthy diet. They play a crucial role in how the body’s cells function and can help reduce cardiovascular risks and much more. Omega- 3s have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body and can decrease symptoms associated with arthritis and chronic disease. "The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating a three-ounce serving of oily fish at least two times a week to get the heart-healthy benefits from omega-3s," (AHA, 2015). People don’t eat fish because it can be costly. Some people just don’t like it and others worry about the mercury levels. At the end of the day, but we need those omega-3s in our diets. Fatty fish is a better option if you want the full omega-3 fatty acid health benefits. Studies have shown that fish, in addition to providing cardiovascular benefits, is loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals as well as protein that you just can't get from fish oil supplements"

Answer 1

Before getting into the discussion let us talk about Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are the polyunsaturated fatty acids which is good for human diet. They are of 3 types i.e.a-linolenic acid(ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA), docosahexaenoic acid(DHA). ALA is found in plant oils whereas DHA and EPA are found in marine oils.

Now,coming to the point. Omega-3 fatty acids are those essential fats which the body cannot make from scratch and so an external source/food is needed to fulfill the requirements. The vegetarian sources for omega 3 fatty acids are chia seeds,walnuts,flax seeds etc. These sources can only provide ALA. For EPA and DHA, one essentially needs to consume fish or fish oils. As the paragraph says "The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating a three-ounce serving of oily fish at least two times a week to get the heart-healthy benefits from omega-3s," (AHA, 2015). People don’t eat fish because it can be costly. Some people just don’t like it and others worry about mercury level. But there are several fish options like Salmon,seabass(japanese fish),oysters,sardines,tuna,shrimp which can be cheaper,tasteful and have less level of mercury.

The benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are just not cardiovascular but also it helps to prevent cancer,reduce fat in liver,good for skin,relieves symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The most discussed thing about omega-3 fatty acid is cardiovasular effect.They lower triglyceride levels.The triglycerides are those fats which is found in the blood and are stored as body fat. High level of tryglycerides are linked with fatty build up in the artery walls and so it increases risk of heart and strokes.

But AHA recommended 3 ounce offish oil or 2 times a week as it having it more than that can have some side effects like bleed(which is already mentioned above),stomach upset,fishy breath,loose stools or nausea.

I hope I responded well to your discussion and it might be helpful.